Methyl methacrylate polymerisations

Similar surface-supported amides have been derived from the Sm" amide Sm N-(SiHMe)2 2(thf)x by grafting on MCM-41, MCM-48 or AS-200 further elaboration led to the formation of the corresponding Sm-fluorenone ketyl, which was shown to contain surface-confined ketyl radicals.Treatment of Sm N(SiHMe2)2 (thf)x MCM-41 with MeOH, AlHBu 2 or Si(H)Me2-substituted indene gave surface-supported catalysts for methyl methacrylate polymerisation. 

By using chiral organolanthanide ansa-metallocenes for methyl methacrylate polymerisation, highly stereoregular poly(methyl methacrylate)s were obtained a syndiotactic or isotactic polymer could be synthesised, depending on the kind of metallocene catalyst [536],... 

The application of achiral cationic zirconocene compounds for methyl methacrylate polymerisation, e.g. a mixture of [Cp 2ZrMe(THF)]+[BPh4] and Cp 2ZrMe2 in methylene chloride solution, leads to the formation of syndio-tactic poly(methyl methacrylate). The species responsible for propagation are believed to be the bimetallic ones, involving cationic zirconium enolate and neutral zirconocene, which facilitates the process. Propagation is postulated to occur via the Michael reaction between the coordinating monomer and the cationic enolate [537] ... 

Methyl methacrylate polymerises in the solid state to give an amorphous poly(methylmethacrylate), as do a number of other methacrylate monomers. Poly(oxymethylene) is a fibrous, oriented, crystalline polymer that is obtained by the ring opening polymerisation of cyclic oxymethylenes, -(CH20)-m, where m can be between 3 and 6. 

Salts of fluorenyl carbanions or of derivatives of diphenyl-methyl carbanions do not initiate polymerisation of styrene but are efficient and clean initiatiors of methyl methacrylate polymerisation. 

The appearance of particles formed in such methyl methacrylate polymerisations is characteristically smooth and spherical. Even under high magnification electron microscopy the surface has only a fine texture. 

Place 25 g. of methyl methacrylate polymer (G.B. Diakon (powder). Perspex (sheet) U.S.A. Lucite, Plexiglass) in a 100 ml. Claisen flask, attach an efficient condenser e.g., of the double smface type) and distil with a small luminous flame move the flame to and fro around the sides of the flask. At about 300° the polymer softens and undergoes rapid depolymerisation to the monomer, methyl methacrylate, which distils over into the receiver. Continue the distillation until only a small black residue (3-4 g.) remains. Redistil the hquid it passes over at 100-110°, mainly at 100-102°. The yield of methyl methacrylate (monomer) is 20 g. If the monomer is to be kept for any period, add 0 -1 g. of hydro quinone to act as a stabiUser or inhibitor of polymerisation. 

Another type of synthetic polymer-based chiral stationary phase is formed when chiral catalyst are used to initiate the polymerisation. In the case of poly(methyl methacrylate) polymers, introduced by Okamoto, the chiraUty of the polymer arises from the heUcity of the polymer and not from any inherent chirahty of the individual monomeric subunits (109). Columns of this type (eg, Chiralpak OT) are available from Chiral Technologies, Inc., or J. T. Baker Inc. 

Suspension Polymerization. Suspension polymerisation yields polymer in the form of tiny beads, which ate primarily used as mol ding powders and ion-exchange resins. Most suspension polymers prepared as mol ding powders are poly(methyl methacrylate) copolymers containing up to 20% acrylate for reduced btittieness and improved processibiUty are also common. 

A third source of initiator for emulsion polymerisation is hydroxyl radicals created by y-radiation of water. A review of radiation-induced emulsion polymerisation detailed efforts to use y-radiation to produce styrene, acrylonitrile, methyl methacrylate, and other similar polymers (60). The economics of y-radiation processes are claimed to compare favorably with conventional techniques although worldwide iadustrial appHcation of y-radiation processes has yet to occur. Use of y-radiation has been made for laboratory study because radical generation can be turned on and off quickly and at various rates (61). 

Tetraneopentyltitanium [36945-13-8] Np Ti, forms from the reaction of TiCl and neopentyllithium ia hexane at —80° C ia modest yield only because of extensive reduction of Ti(IV). Tetranorbomyltitanium [36333-76-3] can be prepared similarly. When exposed to oxygen, (NpO)4Ti forms. If it is boiled ia ben2ene, it decomposes to neopentane. When dissolved ia monomers, eg, a-olefins or dienes, styrene, or methyl methacrylate, it initiates a slow polymerisation (211,212). Results from copolymerisation studies iadicate a radical mechanism (212). Ultraviolet light iacreases the rate of dissociation to... 

Type AD-G is used in an entirely different sort of formulation. The polymer is designed for graft polymerisation with methyl methacrylate. Typically, equal amounts of AD-G and methyl methacrylate are dissolved together in toluene, and the reaction driven to completion with a free-radical catalyst, such as bensoyl peroxide. The graft polymer is usually mixed with an isocyanate just prior to use. It is not normally compounded with resin. The resulting adhesive has very good adhesion to plasticised vinyl, EVA sponge, thermoplastic mbber, and other difficult to bond substrates, and is of particular importance to the shoe industry (42,43). 

Figure 2.18. Rate of polymerisation of methyl methacrylate with azobisisobutyronitrile at 60°C as measured by various workers. (Copyright 1955 by the American Chemical Society and reprinted by permission of the copyright owner)...

Most vinyl monomers will polymerise by free-radical initiation over a wide range of monomer concentration. Methyl methacrylate can even be polymerised... 

The esterified stream, which may contain inhibitors to prevent premature polymerisation, is then passed to a stripping column which separates the methyl methacrylate, methanol and some water from the residue made up of sulphuric acid, ammonium bisulphate and the remainder of the water. The methyl methacrylate is subsequently separated and purified by further distillation. 

Methyl methacrylate will polymerise readily and the effect may be observed with non-inhibited samples of monomers during storage. In commercial practice the monomer is supplied with up to 0.10% of an inhibitor such as hydroquinone, which is removed before polymerisation, either by distillation under reduced pressure or, in some cases, by washing with an alkaline solution. 

It has been observed that in the polymerisaton of methyl methacrylate there is an acceleration in the rate of conversion after about 20% of the monomer has been converted. The average molecular weight of the polymer also increases during polymerisation. It has been shown that these results are obtained even under conditions where there is a negligible rise in the temperature (<1°C) of the reaction mixture. 

The average molecular weight of most bulk polymerised poly(methyl methacrylates) is too high to give a material which has adequate flow properties for injection moulding and extrusion. 

As a result the suspension polymerisation of methyl methacrylate was developed to produce commercial material such as Diakon made by ICI. Such a polymerisation can be carried out rapidly, usually in less than an hour, because there is no serious exotherm problem. 

Commercial poly(methyl methacrylate) is a transparent material, and microscopic and X-ray analyses generally indicate that the material is amorphous. For this reason the polymer was for many years considered to be what is now known as atactic in structure. It is now, however, known that the commercial material is more syndiotactic than atactic. (On one scale of assessment it might be considered about 54% syndiotactic, 37% atactic and 9% isotactic. Reduction in the temperature of free-radical polymerisation down to -78°C increases the amount of syndiotacticity to about 78%). 

Poly(methyl methacrylate) may be blended with a number of additives. Of these the most important are dyes and pigments and these should be stable to both processing and service conditions. Two particular requirements are, firstly, that when used in castings they should not affect the polymerisation reaction and, secondly, that they should have good weathering resistance. 

The molecules join together to form a long chain-like molecule which may contain many thousands of ethylene units. Such a molecule is referred to as a polymer, in this case polyethylene, whilst in this context ethylene is referred to as a monomer. Styrene, propylene, vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate and methyl methacrylate are other examples of monomers which can polymerise in this way. Sometimes two monomers may be reacted together so that residues of both are to be found in the same chain. Such materials are known as copolymers and are exemplified by ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers and styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers. 

However, other molecules exist which form free radicals of such high stability that they effectively stop the chain process. These molecules are called retarders or inhibitors the difference is one of degree, retarders merely slowing down the polymerisation reaction while inhibitors stop it completely. In practice vinyl monomers such as styrene and methyl methacrylate are stored with a trace of inhibitor in them to prevent any uncontrolled polymerisation before use. Prior to polymerisation these liquids must be freed from this inhibitor, often by aqueous extraction and/or distillation. 

For these reasons, despite the apparent advantages and also despite the fact that bulk polymerisation is so often the method of choice for the laboratory preparation of vinyl polymers, this technique is not widely used in industry. Only three polymers are produced in this way, namely poly(ethylene), poly(styrene), and poly(methyl methacrylate). 

The synthesis of isotactic and syndiotactic polymers has been achieved for a number of polymers. For example poly (methyl methacrylate) can be prepared in either isotactic or syndiotactic configurations depending on the details of the polymerisation conditions. 

Methyl methacrylate poses the same risks as the previous ones. This compound had been exposed to air for two months and polymerised partly. An attempt was made to recover the monomer. This monomer was evaporated by heating it to 60°C instead of 40 C. The medium detonated due to excessive heating of the peroxides that had formed. A study showed that in the presence of air or peroxide, methyl methacrylate gives rise to an auto-accelerated polymerisation during which the ester reaches a temperature of 90°C. Rust catalyses this polymerisation. 

Propionaldehyde was poured into a container that was intended for collecting residues from different chemical reactions and that already contained methyl methacrylate. The medium detonated not long after this operation and when closing the container. This could be explained (as has already been seen with vinyi acetate) by the fact that propionaidehyde was peroxidised and catalysed the methacrylate polymerisation that could not be controlled. 

A polymer is produced by the emulsion polymerisation of acrylonitrile and methyl methacrylate in a stirred vessel. The monomers and an aqueous solution of catalyst are fed to the polymerisation reactor continuously. The product is withdrawn from the base of the vessel as a slurry. 

Another useful, and quite sensitive, test is the initiation of polymerisation (c/ p. 320). Polymerisation can be initiated, in suitable substrates, by cations and anions as well as by radicals, but the effect of these several species can be differentiated by using a 50/50 mixture of phenylethene (styrene), PhCH=CH2, and methyl 2-methyl-propenoate (methyl methacrylate), CH2=C(Me)C02Me, as substrate cationic initiators are found to produce polystyrene only, anions polymethyl methacrylate only, while radicals produce a copolymer containing equal amounts of the two monomers. 

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